共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 31 毫秒
1.
Ana C. Ebrecht Matías D. Asención Diez Claudia V. Piattoni Sergio A. GuerreroAlberto A. Iglesias 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2015
Background
Giardia lamblia is a pathogen of humans and other vertebrates. The synthesis of glycogen and of structural oligo and polysaccharides critically determine the parasite's capacity for survival and pathogenicity. These characteristics establish that UDP-glucose is a relevant metabolite, as it is a main substrate to initiate varied carbohydrate metabolic routes.Results
Herein, we report the molecular cloning of the gene encoding UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from genomic DNA of G. lamblia, followed by its heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant enzyme was characterized to have a monomeric structure. Glucose-1-phosphate and UTP were preferred substrates, but the enzyme also used galactose-1-phosphate and TTP. The catalytic efficiency to synthesize UDP-galactose was significant. Oxidation by physiological compounds (hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide) inactivated the enzyme and the process was reverted after reduction by cysteine and thioredoxin. UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine pyrophosphorylase, the other UTP-related enzyme in the parasite, neither used galactose-1-phosphate nor was affected by redox modification.Conclusions
Our results suggest that in G. lamblia the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is regulated by oxido-reduction mechanism. The enzyme exhibits the ability to synthesize UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose and it plays a key role providing substrates to glycosyl transferases that produce oligo and polysaccharides.General significance
The characterization of the G. lamblia UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase reinforces the view that in protozoa this enzyme is regulated by a redox mechanism. As well, we propose a new pathway for UDP-galactose production mediated by the promiscuous UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase of this organism. 相似文献2.
Young-Jun Park Sung-Jin Yoon Hee-Bong Lee 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2010
Background
Dienelactone hydrolases catalyze the hydrolysis of dienelactone to maleylacetate, which play a key role for the microbial degradation of chloroaromatics via chlorocatechols. Here, a thermostable dienelactone hydrolase from thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus P1 was the first purified and characterized and then expressed in Escherichia coli.Methods
The enzyme was purified by using several column chromatographys and characterized by determining the enzyme activity using p-nitrophenyl caprylate and dienelactones. In addition, the amino acids related to the catalytic mechanism were examined by site-directed mutagenesis using the identified gene.Results
The enzyme, approximately 29 kDa monomeric, showed the maximal activity at 74 °C and pH 5.0, respectively. The enzyme displayed remarkable thermostability: it retained approximately 50% of its activity after 50 h of incubation at 90 °C, and showed high stability against denaturing agents, including various detergents, urea, and organic solvents. The enzyme displayed substrate specificities toward trans-dienelactone, not cis-isomer, and also carboxylesterase activity toward p-nitrophenyl esters ranging from butyrate (C4) to laurate (C12). The kcat/Km ratios for trans-dienelactone and p-nitrophenyl caprylate (C8), the best substrate, were 92.5 and 54.7 s−1 μM−1, respectively.Conclusions
The enzyme is a typical dienelactone hydrolase belonging to α/β hydrolase family and containing a catalytic triad composed of Cys151, Asp198, and His229 in the active site.General significance
The enzyme is the first characterized archaeal dienelactone hydrolase. 相似文献3.
Chi Ho Chan Sean A. Newmister Keenan Talyor Kathy R. Claas Ivan Rayment Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2014
Background
Cobamide diversity arises from the nature of the nucleotide base. Nicotinate mononucleotide (NaMN):base phosphoribosyltransferases (CobT) synthesize α-linked riboside monophosphates from diverse nucleotide base substrates (e.g., benzimidazoles, purines, phenolics) that are incorporated into cobamides.Methods
Structural investigations of two members of the CobT family of enzymes in complex with various substrate bases as well as in vivo and vitro activity analyses of enzyme variants were performed to elucidate the roles of key amino acid residues important for substrate recognition.Results
Results of in vitro and in vivo studies of active-site variants of the Salmonella enterica CobT (SeCobT) enzyme suggest that a catalytic base may not be required for catalysis. This idea is supported by the analyses of crystal structures that show that two glutamate residues function primarily to maintain an active conformation of the enzyme. In light of these findings, we propose that proper positioning of the substrates in the active site triggers the attack at the C1 ribose of NaMN.Conclusion
Whether or not a catalytic base is needed for function is discussed within the framework of the in vitro analysis of the enzyme activity. Additionally, structure-guided site-directed mutagenesis of SeCobT broadened its substrate specificity to include phenolic bases, revealing likely evolutionary changes needed to increase cobamide diversity, and further supporting the proposed mechanism for the phosphoribosylation of phenolic substrates.General Significance
Results of this study uncover key residues in the CobT enzyme that contribute to the diversity of cobamides in nature. 相似文献4.
Shivani Kanodia Gautam Kumar Luca Rizzi Alessandro Pedretti Anthony N. Hodder Sergio Romeo Pawan Malhotra 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2014
Background
Plasmodium falciparum serine repeat antigen 5 (PfSERA5) is an abundant blood stage protein that plays an essential role in merozoite egress and invasion. The native protein undergoes extensive proteolytic cleavage that appears to be tightly regulated. PfSERA5 N-terminal fragment is being developed as vaccine candidate antigen. Although PfSERA5 belongs to papain-like cysteine protease family, its catalytic domain has a serine in place of cysteine at the active site.Methods
In the present study, we synthesized a number of peptides from the N- and C-terminal regions of PfSERA5 active domain and evaluated their inhibitory potential.Results
The final proteolytic step of PfSERA5 involves removal of a C-terminal ~ 6 kDa fragment that results in the generation of a catalytically active ~ 50 kDa enzyme. In the present study, we demonstrate that two of the peptides derived from the C-terminal ~ 6 kDa region inhibit the parasite growth and also cause a delay in the parasite development. These peptides reduced the enzyme activity of the recombinant protein and co-localized with the PfSERA5 protein within the parasite, thereby indicating the specific inhibition of PfSERA5 activity. Molecular docking studies revealed that the inhibitory peptides interact with the active site of the protein. Interestingly, the peptides did not have an effect on the processing of PfSERA5.Conclusions
Our observations indicate the temporal regulation of the final proteolytic cleavage step that occurs just prior to egress.General significance
These results reinforce the role of PfSERA5 for the intra-erythrocytic development of malaria parasite and show the role of carboxy terminal ~ 6 kDa fragments in the regulation of PfSERA5 activity. The results also suggest that final cleavage step of PfSERA5 can be targeted for the development of new anti-malarials. 相似文献5.
Xavier Roussel Christine Lancelon-Pin Anders Viksø-Nielsen Agnès Rolland-Sabaté Florent Grimaud Gabrielle Potocki-Véronèse Alain Buléon Jean-Luc Putaux Christophe D'Hulst 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2013
Background
Glycogen and starch branching enzymes catalyze the formation of α(1 → 6) linkages in storage polysaccharides by rearrangement of preexisting α-glucans. This reaction occurs through the cleavage of α(1 → 4) linkage and transfer in α(1 → 6) of the fragment in non-reducing position. These enzymes define major elements that control the structure of both glycogen and starch.Methods
The kinetic parameters of the branching enzyme of Rhodothermus obamensis (RoBE) were established after in vitro incubation with different branched or unbranched α-glucans of controlled structure.Results
A minimal chain length of ten glucosyl units was required for the donor substrate to be recognized by RoBE that essentially produces branches of DP 3–8. We show that RoBE preferentially creates new branches by intermolecular mechanism. Branched glucans define better substrates for the enzyme leading to the formation of hyper-branched particles of 30–70 nm in diameter (dextrins). Interestingly, RoBE catalyzes an additional α-4-glucanotransferase activity not described so far for a member of the GH13 family.Conclusions
RoBE is able to transfer α(1 → 4)-linked-glucan in C4 position (instead of C6 position for the branching activity) of a glucan to create new α(1 → 4) linkages yielding to the elongation of linear chains subsequently used for further branching. This result is a novel case for the thin border that exists between enzymes of the GH13 family.General significance
This work reveals the original catalytic properties of the thermostable branching enzyme of R. obamensis. It defines new approach to produce highly branched α-glucan particles in vitro. 相似文献6.
Carine F. Djuika Sabine Fiedler Martina Schnölzer Cecilia Sanchez Michael Lanzer Marcel Deponte 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2013
Background
Peroxiredoxins are important heterogeneous thiol-dependent hydroperoxidases with a variety of isoforms and enzymatic mechanisms. A special subclass of glutaredoxin/glutathione-dependent peroxiredoxins has been discovered in bacteria and eukaryotes during the last decade, but the exact enzymatic mechanisms of these enzymes remain to be unraveled.Methods
We performed a comprehensive analysis of the enzyme kinetics and redox states of one of these glutaredoxin/glutathione-dependent peroxiredoxins, the antioxidant protein from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, using steady-state kinetic measurements, site-directed mutagenesis, redox mobility shift assays, gel filtration, and mass spectrometry.Results
P. falciparum antioxidant protein requires not only glutaredoxin but also glutathione as a true substrate for the reduction of hydroperoxides. One peroxiredoxin cysteine residue and one glutaredoxin cysteine residue are sufficient for catalysis, however, additional cysteine residues of both proteins result in alternative redox states and conformations in vitro with implications for redox regulation. Our data furthermore point to a glutathione-dependent peroxiredoxin activation and a negative subunit cooperativity.Conclusions
The investigated glutaredoxin/glutathione/peroxiredoxin system provides numerous new insights into the mechanism and redox regulation of peroxiredoxins.General significance
As a member of the special subclass of glutaredoxin/glutathione-dependent peroxiredoxins, the P. falciparum antioxidant protein could become a reference protein for peroxiredoxin catalysis and regulation. 相似文献7.
Olga V. Belyaeva Seung-Ah LeeOleg V. Kolupaev Natalia Y. Kedishvili 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2009
Background
In chordates, retinoid metabolism is an important target of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs). It is not known whether SDRs play a role in retinoid metabolism of protostomes, such as Drosophila melanogaster.Methods
Drosophila genome was searched for genes encoding proteins with ∼ 50% identity to human retinol dehydrogenase 12 (RDH12). The corresponding proteins were expressed in Sf9 cells and biochemically characterized. Their phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using PHYLIP software.Results
A total of six Drosophila SDR genes were identified. Five of these genes are clustered on chromosome 2 and one is located on chromosome X. The deduced proteins are 300 to 406 amino acids long and are associated with microsomal membranes. They recognize all-trans-retinaldehyde and all-trans-3-hydroxyretinaldehyde as substrates and prefer NADPH as a cofactor. Phylogenetically, Drosophila SDRs belong to the same branch of the SDR superfamily as human RDH12, indicating a common ancestry early in bilaterian evolution, before a protostome–deuterostome split.Conclusions
Similarities in the substrate and cofactor specificities of Drosophila versus human SDRs suggest conservation of their function in retinoid metabolism throughout protostome and deuterostome phyla.General significance
The discovery of Drosophila retinaldehyde reductases sheds new light on the conversion of β-carotene and zeaxantine to visual pigment and provides a better understanding of the evolutionary roots of retinoid-active SDRs. 相似文献8.
Chunli Zhang Matteo Allegretti Janet Vonck Julian D. Langer Marco Marcia Guohong Peng Hartmut Michel 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2014
Background
F1FO ATP synthases catalyze the synthesis of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate driven by ion motive forces across the membrane. A number of ATP synthases have been characterized to date. The one from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus presents unique features, i.e. a putative heterodimeric stalk. To complement previous work on the native form of this enzyme, we produced it heterologously in Escherichia coli.Methods
We designed an artificial operon combining the nine genes of A. aeolicus ATP synthase, which are split into four clusters in the A. aeolicus genome. We expressed the genes and purified the enzyme complex by affinity and size-exclusion chromatography. We characterized the complex by native gel electrophoresis, Western blot, and mass spectrometry. We studied its activity by enzymatic assays and we visualized its structure by single-particle electron microscopy.Results
We show that the heterologously produced complex has the same enzymatic activity and the same structure as the native ATP synthase complex extracted from A. aeolicus cells. We used our expression system to confirm that A. aeolicus ATP synthase possesses a heterodimeric peripheral stalk unique among non-photosynthetic bacterial F1FO ATP synthases.Conclusions
Our system now allows performing previously impossible structural and functional studies on A. aeolicus F1FO ATP synthase.General significance
More broadly, our work provides a valuable platform to characterize many other membrane protein complexes with complicated stoichiometry, i.e. other respiratory complexes, the nuclear pore complex, or transporter systems. 相似文献9.
Anabel Soldano Huili Yao Mario Rivera Eduardo A. Ceccarelli Daniela L. Catalano-Dupuy 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2014
Background
Heme oxygenase catalyzes the conversion of heme to iron, carbon monoxide and biliverdin employing oxygen and reducing equivalents. This enzyme is essential for heme-iron utilization and contributes to virulence in Leptospira interrogans.Methods
A phylogenetic analysis was performed using heme oxygenases sequences from different organisms including saprophytic and pathogenic Leptospira species. L. interrogans heme oxygenase (LepHO) was cloned, overexpressed and purified. The structural and enzymatic properties of LepHO were analyzed by UV–vis spectrophotometry and 1H NMR. Heme-degrading activity, ferrous iron release and biliverdin production were studied with different redox partners.Results
A plastidic type, high efficiently ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (LepFNR) provides the electrons for heme turnover by heme oxygenase in L. interrogans. This catalytic reaction does not require a ferredoxin. Moreover, LepFNR drives the heme degradation to completeness producing free iron and α-biliverdin as the final products. The phylogenetic divergence between heme oxygenases from saprophytic and pathogenic species supports the functional role of this enzyme in L. interrogans pathogenesis.Conclusions
Heme-iron scavenging by LepHO in L. interrogans requires only LepFNR as redox partner. Thus, we report a new substrate of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductases different to ferredoxin and flavodoxin, the only recognized protein substrates of this flavoenzyme to date. The results presented here uncover a fundamental step of heme degradation in L. interrogans.General significance
Our findings contribute to understand the heme-iron utilization pathway in Leptospira. Since iron is required for pathogen survival and infectivity, heme degradation pathway may be relevant for therapeutic applications. 相似文献10.
Yuki Masahara-Negishi Akira Hosomi Massimiliano Della Mea Donatella Serafini-Fracassini Tadashi Suzuki 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2012
Background
The cytoplasmic peptide:N-glycanase (PNGase) is a deglycosylating enzyme involved in the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) process, while ERAD-independent activities are also reported. Previous biochemical analyses indicated that the cytoplasmic PNGase orthologue in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPNG1) can function as not only PNGase but also transglutaminase, while its in vivo function remained unclarified.Methods
AtPNG1 was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its in vivo role on PNGase-dependent ERAD pathway was examined.Results
AtPNG1 could facilitate the ERAD through its deglycosylation activity. Moreover, a catalytic mutant of AtPNG1 (AtPNG1(C251A)) was found to significantly impair the ERAD process. This result was found to be N-glycan-dependent, as the AtPNG(C251A) did not affect the stability of the non-glycosylated RTA? (ricin A chain non-toxic mutant). Tight interaction between AtPNG1(C251A) and the RTA? was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation analysis.Conclusion
The plant PNGase facilitates ERAD through its deglycosylation activity, while the catalytic mutant of AtPNG1 impair glycoprotein ERAD by binding to N-glycans on the ERAD substrates.General significance
Our studies underscore the functional importance of a plant PNGase orthologue as a deglycosylating enzyme involved in the ERAD. 相似文献11.
Pierre Andreoletti Jean-Marie Mouesca Patrice Gouet Michel Jaquinod Chantal Capeillère-Blandin Hélène Marie Jouve 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2009
Background
Heme oxidative degradation has been extensively investigated in peroxidases but not in catalases. The verdoheme formation, a product of heme oxidation which inactivates the enzyme, was studied in Proteus mirabilis catalase.Methods
The verdoheme was generated by adding peracetic acid and analyzed by mass spectrometry and spectrophotometry.Results
Kinetics follow-up of different catalase reactional intermediates shows that i) the formation of compound I always precedes that of verdoheme, ii) compound III is never observed, iii) the rate of compound II decomposition is not compatible with that of verdoheme formation, and iv) dithiothreitol prevents the verdoheme formation but not that of compound II, whereas NADPH prevents both of them. The formation of verdoheme is strongly inhibited by EDTA but not increased by Fe3+ or Cu2+ salts. The generation of verdoheme is facilitated by the presence of protein radicals as observed in the F194Y mutated catalase. The inability of the inactive variant (H54F) to form verdoheme, indicates that the heme oxidation is fully associated to the enzyme catalysis.Conclusion
These data, taken together, strongly suggest that the verdoheme formation pathway originates from compound I rather than from compound II.General significance
The autocatalytic verdoheme formation is likely to occur in vivo. 相似文献12.
Zabdi González-Chávez Viridiana Olin-SandovalRafael Moreno-Sánchez Emma Saavedra 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2015
Background
The principal oxidative-stress defense in the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the tryparedoxin-dependent peroxide detoxification pathway, constituted by trypanothione reductase (TryR), tryparedoxin (TXN), tryparedoxin peroxidase (TXNPx) and tryparedoxin-dependent glutathione peroxidase A (GPxA). Here, Metabolic Control Analysis (MCA) was applied to quantitatively prioritize drug target(s) within the pathway by identifying its flux-controlling enzymes.Methods
The recombinant enzymes were kinetically characterized at physiological pH/temperature. Further, the pathway was in vitro reconstituted using enzyme activity ratios and fluxes similar to those observed in the parasites; then, enzyme and substrate titrations were performed to determine their degree of control on flux. Also, kinetic characterization of the whole pathway was performed.Results
Analyses of the kinetic properties indicated that TXN is the less efficient pathway enzyme derived from its high Kmapp for trypanothione and low Vmax values within the cell. MCA established that the TXN–TXNPx and TXN–GPxA redox pairs controlled by 90–100% the pathway flux, whereas 10% control was attained by TryR. The Kmapp values of the complete pathway for substrates suggested that the pathway flux was determined by the peroxide availability, whereas at high peroxide concentrations, flux may be limited by NADPH.Conclusion
These quantitative kinetic and metabolic analyses pointed out to TXN as a convenient drug target due to its low catalytic efficiency, high control on the flux of peroxide detoxification and role as provider of reducing equivalents to the two main peroxidases in the parasite.General Significance
MCA studies provide rational and quantitative criteria to select enzymes for drug-target development. 相似文献13.
Demei Meng Lin Shen Rui Yang Xinhua Zhang Jiping Sheng 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2014
Background
1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO) is a key enzyme that catalyses the final step in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone ethylene. Recently, the first ACO homologue gene was isolated in Agaricus bisporus, whereas information concerning the nature of the ethylene-forming activity of this mushroom ACO is currently lacking.Methods
Recombinant ACO from A. bisporus (Ab-ACO) was purified and characterised for the first time. Molecular modelling combined with site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic and spectral analysis were used to investigate the property of Ab-ACO.Results
Ab-ACO has eight amino acid residues that are conserved in the Fe (II) ascorbate family of dioxygenases, including four catalytic residues in the active site, but Ab-ACO lacks a key residue, S289. In comparison to plant ACOs, Ab-ACO requires ACC and Fe (II) but does not require ascorbate. In addition, Ab-ACO had relatively low activity and was completely dependent on bicarbonate, which could be ascribed to the replacement of S289 by G289. Moreover, the ferrous ion could induce a change in the tertiary, but not the secondary, structure of Ab-ACO.Conclusions
These results provide crucial experimental support for the ability of Ab-ACO to catalyse ethylene formation in a similar manner to that of plant ACOs, but there are differences between the biochemical and catalytic characteristics of Ab-ACO and plant ACOs.General significance
This work enhances the understanding of the ethylene biosynthesis pathways in fungi and could promote profound physiological research of the role of ethylene in the regulation of mushroom growth and development. 相似文献14.
Keisuke Kaneko Yasunori Sugiyama Yusuke Yamada Noriyuki Sueyoshi Akira Watanabe Yasuhiko Asada Atsuhiko Ishida Isamu Kameshita 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2011
Background
In a previous study, we conducted an expression cloning screen of a cDNA library prepared from Coprinopsis cinerea mycelia using Multi-PK antibodies and detected a wide variety of Ser/Thr protein kinases. One of the isolated clones, CMZ032, was found to encode a putative Ser/Thr protein kinase designated CoPK32. In the present study, we investigated the biochemical properties and physiological significance of CoPK32.Methods
CoPK32 was expressed in Escherichia coli, and its biochemical properties were examined. The effects of high osmotic stresses on the growth of C. cinerea and on the endogenous CoPK32 activity in mycelia were also examined.Results
CoPK32 showed autophosphorylation activity and effectively phosphorylated exogenous protein substrates. CoPK32S, a splice variant that was 18 amino acids shorter than CoPK32, showed much lower protein kinase activity than CoPK32. The catalytic properties of CoPK32 deletion mutants suggested that the C-terminal region of CoPK32 was important for the kinase activity and recognition of substrates. CoPK32 was highly expressed in the actively growing region of the mycelial colony. When mycelia were stimulated by high osmotic stresses, endogenous CoPK32 was markedly activated and the mycelial growth was severely inhibited. The activation of CoPK32 activity by high osmotic stresses was abrogated by SB202190 or SB239063 as well-known inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase.Conclusions
CoPK32 is involved in the stress response pathway in mycelia of C. cinerea in response to environmental stresses.General significance
In C. cinerea, protein kinases such as CoPK32 play important roles in signal transduction pathways involved in stress responses. 相似文献15.
16.
Werner E.G. Müller Michael Binder Johannes von Lintig Yue-Wei Guo Xiaohong Wang Jaap A. Kaandorp Matthias Wiens Heinz C. Schröder 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2011
Background
The formation of the spicules in siliceous sponges involves the formation of cylinder-like structures in the extraspicular space, composed of the enzyme silicatein and the calcium-dependent lectin.Scope of review
Molecular cloning of the cDNAs (carotene dioxygenase, retinal dehydrogenase, and BMB-1 [bone morphogenic protein-1]) from the demosponge Suberites domuncula was performed. These tools were used to understand the retinoid metabolism in the animal by qRT-PCR, immunoblotting and TEM.Major conclusions
We demonstrate that silintaphin-2, a silicatein-interacting protein, is processed from a longer-sized 15-kDa precursor to a truncated, shorter-sized 13 kDa calcium-binding protein via proteolytic cleavage at the dipeptide Ala↓Asp, mediated by BMP-1. The expression of this protease as well as the expression of two key enzymes of the carotinoid metabolism, the β,β-carotene-15,15′-dioxygenase and the retinal dehydrogenase/reductase, were found to be strongly up-regulated by retinoic acid. Hence retinoic acid turned out to be a key factor in skeletogenesis in the most ancient still existing metazoans, the sponges.General significance
It is shown that retinoic acid regulates the formation of the organic cylinder that surrounds the axis of the spicules and enables, as a scaffold, the radial apposition of new silica layers and hence the growth of the spicules. 相似文献17.
Tokumitsu Wakabayashi Yukihiro Kimura Yusuke Ohba Ryota Adachi Yoh-ichi Satoh Ryuzo Shingai 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2009
Background
How neurons and neuronal circuits transform sensory input into behavior is not well understood. Because of its well-described, simple nervous system, Caenorhabditis elegans is an ideal model organism to study this issue. Transformation of sensory signals into neural activity is a crucial first step in the sensory–motor transformation pathway in an animal's nervous system. We examined the properties of chemosensory ASK neurons of C. elegans during sensory stimulation.Method
A genetically encoded calcium sensor protein, G-CaMP, was expressed in ASK neurons of C. elegans, and the intracellular calcium dynamics of the neurons were observed.Results
After application of the attractants l-lysine or food-related stimuli, the level of calcium in ASK neurons decreased. In contrast, responses increased upon stimulus removal. Opposite responses were observed after application and removal of a repellent.Conclusion
The observed changes in response to external stimuli suggest that the activity of ASK neurons may impact stimulus-evoked worm behavior. The stimulus-ON/activity-OFF properties of ASK neurons are similar to those of vertebrate retinal photoreceptors.General significance
Analysis of sensory–motor transformation pathways based on the activity and structure of neuronal circuits is an important goal in neurobiology and is practical in C. elegans. Our study provides insights into the mechanism of such transformation in the animal. 相似文献18.
Kohji Yamamoto Akifumi Higashiura Mamoru Suzuki Kosuke Aritake Yoshihiro Urade Nobuko Uodome Atsushi Nakagawa 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2013
Background
Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are members of a major family of detoxification enzymes. Here, we report the crystal structure of a sigma-class GST of Bombyx mori, bmGSTS1, to gain insight into the mechanism catalysis.Methods
The structure of bmGSTS1 and its complex with glutathione were determined at resolutions of 1.9 Å and 1.7 Å by synchrotron radiation and the molecular replacement method.Results
The three-dimensional structure of bmGSTS1 shows that it exists as a dimer and is similar in structure to other GSTs with respect to its secondary and tertiary structures. Although striking similarities to the structure of prostaglandin D synthase were also detected, we were surprised to find that bmGSTS1 can convert prostaglandin H2 into its E2 form. Comparison of bmGSTS1 with its glutathione complex showed that bound glutathione was localized to the glutathione-binding site (G-site). Site-directed mutagenesis of bmGSTS1 mutants indicated that amino acid residues Tyr8, Leu14, Trp39, Lys43, Gln50, Met51, Gln63, and Ser64 in the G-site contribute to catalytic activity.Conclusion
We determined the tertiary structure of bmGSTS1 exhibiting prostaglandin E synthase activity.General significance
These results are, to our knowledge, the first report of a prostaglandin synthase activity in insects. 相似文献19.
Jure Pohleven Nataša Obermajer Jerica Sabotič Sabina Anžlovar Kristina Sepčić Janko Kos Bogdan Kralj Borut Štrukelj Jože Brzin 《Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/General Subjects》2009
Background
Lectins are a diverse group of carbohydrate-binding proteins exhibiting numerous biological activities and functions.Methods
Two-step serial carbohydrate affinity chromatography was used to isolate a lectin from the edible mushroom clouded agaric (Clitocybe nebularis). It was characterized biochemically, its gene and cDNA cloned and the deduced amino acid sequence analyzed. Its activity was tested by hemagglutination assay and carbohydrate-binding specificity determined by glycan microarray analysis. Its effect on proliferation of several human cell lines was determined by MTS assay.Results
A homodimeric lectin with 15.9-kDa subunits agglutinates human group A, followed by B, O, and bovine erythrocytes. Hemagglutination was inhibited by glycoprotein asialofetuin and lactose. Glycan microarray analysis revealed that the lectin recognizes human blood group A determinant GalNAcα1–3(Fucα1–2)Galβ-containing carbohydrates, and GalNAcβ1–4GlcNAc (N,N'-diacetyllactosediamine). The lectin exerts antiproliferative activity specific to human leukemic T cells.Conclusions
The protein belongs to the ricin B-like lectin superfamily, and has been designated as C. nebularis lectin (CNL). Its antiproliferative effect appears to be elicited by binding to carbohydrate receptors on human leukemic T cells.General significance
CNL is one of the few mushroom ricin B-like lectins that have been identified and the only one so far shown to possess immunomodulatory properties. 相似文献20.